Thanksgiving in hard times is an interesting holiday. And in COVID19, it’s very hard to not be with our loved ones. In a meeting this week, the check in was what is your favorite Thanksgiving side dish? I said my loved ones that I can’t be with this year: my mom, in an assisted living center, in Arizona and my spread out sisters who live in California, Arizona, Texas and Virginia and their kids and and and.
And here’s what makes thanksgiving extra hard here. 2,605 families in our community lost everything on September 8. United Way of Jackson County launched a Fire Relief Fund, United Together that very day. To date, we have raised funds from a person in every single state and 5 foreign countries. What does that say? It says Thanksgiving! We are deeply grateful for those who have recognized the torn fabric in our community.
We received 763 applications for our Fire Relief Fund and today we have cut the first 197 checks totaling $336,550! We are working hard to move through the verifications process and complete the application review and awards by December 15.
And on this Thanksgiving eve, we are grateful for your support, your prayers, and your wisdom. We need you now and you’re delivering! We’ve raised $2.5 million to date and want to be at $3 million by year end. Please consider a gift. 100% is going to help folks in Jackson County recover, rebuild and renew their lives.
www.unitedwayofjacksoncounty.org/give
May you take a moment this Thanksgiving to find wonder in something, a perfectly formed leaf on the ground, a smile, your favorite food, a smile across zoom. Feel free to share what brought you that wonder. Stay safe and be well.
